Each year about 15,000 kids are brought to the emergency room with injuries caused by furniture tip-overs, according to data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That’s a 41 percent increase since the early 1990s, with falling TVs, shelves and dressers being the most common accidents. The increase may be due to changes in furniture design. Here’s what you can do to help prevent injuries from occurring:

?Put TVs on stands that are low to the ground, and consider attaching them to the wall with safety straps or Velcro.

?Avoid putting tempting items, such as toys, on top of furniture. Kids may try to climb up to retrieve them.

?When buying new furniture, select pieces with wide legs or solid bases.

?Install drawer stops that prevent drawers from pulling all the way out and falling on little toes. Put heavy items on shelves lower to the ground to prevent tipping.

The Washington Post

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